My brakes are squeaking every time I use them especially at lower speeds but they aren’t even a year old and don’t even have 7k on them. What could be the issue?

Posted by GlizzyDog222@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 47 comments

I checked my brake fluids and it’s almost full, I wash my vehicle quite often but the brakes still squeak.
Any suggestions or ideas on what to do? They shouldn’t need to be replaced since they’ve got less than 7000km on them and they’re not even a year old.

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Ok-Subject1296@reddit

The noise is not from rust it is the pad itself vibrating in the caliper. All that you can do is to put hi-temp grease on the pads every where they come in contact with the caliper

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GlizzyDog222@reddit (OP)

I tried braking hard like everyone said and it seems to have fixed it (for now)

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Suiryiuu@reddit

Could just be glazed pads or cheap pad material. Even newer brakes can squeak especially at low speeds. I'd also check for dust buildup or lack of brake grease on the hardware before replacing anything.

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IUsedToLikeLimericks@reddit

Probably no anti squeal shim or copperslip on the back of the pad.

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DeanerBC@reddit

We're they cheap non-OEM brake pads? I made the mistake of going with mid grade pads from napa for my 2004 Mazda 3 and they're REALLY noisy. 🤦

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GlizzyDog222@reddit (OP)

Honestly I don’t even know, I bought it from a Ram dealership and they gave me new tires and brakes so I’m guessing it’s OEM or they lied and didn’t give me new stuff lol

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SqueakyCleanRubbish@reddit

I don't know about Mazda, but I know Toyota has the true OEM pads, but dealerships usually replace them with the AZ line. They don't want to scare people customers away when they give them a quote. They are Toyota's budget friendly line. The quality isn't garbage, but its definitely not as good as the true OEM line. They tend to squeak here and there.

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DeanerBC@reddit

If it was from the dealership they definitely used OEM brakes.

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CommonBubba@reddit

Not necessarily…

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LoHungTheSilent@reddit

Right, I am sure they charged OEM prices.

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DeanerBC@reddit

That's true depending on the dealership... I know the ones I worked at used only OEM stuff though.

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tetsuo_and_soup@reddit

Not exactly, we use stoptech pads and rotors on all non Hondas at work

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sIudge_factory@reddit

Did you buy it new or used? I worked at a dealership and the only used vehicles that got OEM replacement brakes were GM only because it was a Chevy dealer

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GlizzyDog222@reddit (OP)

I bought used, it’s a 2018 from a Dodge/Chrysler dealership

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sIudge_factory@reddit

I’d definitely take it back and have them look at it

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SqueakyCleanRubbish@reddit

Common reasons: cheapo pads, failing to bed in the pads properly when new, glazed pads, failing to properly clean the caliper bracket before mounting the hardware, incorrectly installed brake hardware, not using the springs that are included with most brake pads, sticking slide pins, failing to use brake parts grease in certain areas, or debris caught under the pads.

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Sig-vicous@reddit

Are they otherwise smooth and they stop well when you're hard on the brakes?

Definitely make sure they're not worn pads. If you bought the vehicle used, it doesn't matter how much you've driven on them, the pads could have been low when you bought them.

Sometimes the pad compound has a tendency to squeal a bit, especially if they're more of a performance brake pad.

And sometimes there can be absolutely nothing wrong. Brake pads can vibrate and make a squealing noise under very light pedal pressure. Some replace their pad spring clips and/or apply some "stop squeal" compound to the surfaces of the caliper where they contact the back (not the face) of the brake pad to help.

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GlizzyDog222@reddit (OP)

Yeah brakes perfectly fine and look pretty good, I gotta take a closer look tomorrow

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wpmason@reddit

Sometimes the just squeak. It’s just vibrations and harmonics.

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Muntster@reddit

Might just be pad type. My EBC blues squeak a bit until they are really warm

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Accomplished-Cat-632@reddit

Have noisy brakes as well. At slow speeds. It’s the actual material of the pads. Yes there are different pads. The better pads are more harder that supposedly last a bit longer. Trade off they can be noisy at slow speeds.

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Talentless_Cooking@reddit

They are on a Ram? This is the way. They always sound like a city bus, live with it or buy something else.

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erik_salvia@reddit

It’s possible you have a caliper going bad. Had one that locked up on me recently, the longer I would drive the hotter it would get, and the heat/wear caused it to squeak louder. Went home while it was doing this and it had already wiped out one of the pads and destroyed the rotor

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Gunk_Olgidar@reddit

What could be the issue?

Wrong pads or bad installation.

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Naikrobak@reddit

What kind of car?

I see you don’t drive a lot, that’s likely a part of the problem. Most brakes do a lot better when they are used often.

Also lots of cars need the brakes “broken in”. Get up to speed, like 80mph, and do a full stop hard on the brakes as hard as you can. Do it at least twice and 3 times is better.

This will heat up the brakes and remove any debris, rust, glazing, etc and will generally make the squealing stop for a while. It will return if you keep driving the same way, just repeat the stop process

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GlizzyDog222@reddit (OP)

It’s a 2018 Ram 1500 and thanks, I’ve seen a lot of suggestions saying I should hit the brakes hard a couple of times, I’m going to try it out

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jibaro1953@reddit

Aftermarket brake pads are noted for squealing

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PetriDishCocktail@reddit

Look up how to bed in your brakes. If you have any type of type of performance brake pad they need a periodic bedding in. Especially, after driving in the rain or going through a car wash. On my car anytime I go to the car wash I have to bed in the brakes again.

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No-Citron-2774@reddit

Take it down a quiet st apply brakes few times get them other thing you can is is apply them in reverse a few times. Sounds like there a glazed up.

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Old_Personality_6624@reddit

Maybe you are hard on them and wear them out prematurely

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GlizzyDog222@reddit (OP)

I thought that but I’ve never had to brake hard and I don’t brake hard or late so I know I’m not being hard on them

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Tuques@reddit

Look at the rotor and see if there are any noticeable lines or grooves in it. Chances are that the pads are low and the clip is rubbing.

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MichaDaFox@reddit

Depending on the compound especially if it's a more aggressive compound than stock, or vastly cheaper semi metallic pad may have larger metallic bits that just make more noise.

I have EBC yellow stuffs on my car and it sounds like a city bus coming to a stop but there's nothing wrong with them. Once they heat up there's a lot less noise.

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InvestmentGreat5963@reddit

Maybe discs were put on rusty hub? Or guide pins not relubricated? Or overtightened?

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throwaway007676@reddit

Probably because you never drive it. Cars hate to sit and develop all sorts of problems from it. I bet your brake rotors look horrible.

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GlizzyDog222@reddit (OP)

I drive it a decent bit, maybe one or two days (very rarely two) I don’t but I guess I should clean them

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B3AV3R_BLAST3R@reddit

Caliper pins may be seized. Pull them apart to check if the noise is New

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Material-Job-1928@reddit

Do they squeak the same all the time, or just a few times after sitting and then get quieter? Rotors will flash rust out in the elements, and make horrible noises until the rust is cooked off. Is the car driven daily? Unless something is seriously wrong with a caliper, or the slides brakes should last tens of thousands of miles.

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GlizzyDog222@reddit (OP)

It’s a pretty consistent squeak, not super loud but today as I was parking I had a pretty loud squeak. I don’t drive everyday and if I do it’s not that far. Maybe a little rust from washing/rain?

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Material-Job-1928@reddit

I can't post image here (can DM if you like), but brake rotors should be a dull grey color, and consistent all the way around. Expect a dark grey, or brown ring on the outer edge about 1/8" wide (rust gathers here since the pad is slightly smaller than the rotor). If you have rusty rings, grooves, or black spots the rest of rotors then you have oxides creeping into them, and that's the noises.

If it's not bad you can do a brake bedding procedure to clean it up. Find an open, dry, straight and safe piece of road with no other traffic. Brake from 60 to 20 MPH as hard as you can without having the ABS kick in three times, then brake gradually from about the same speeds three more times. Do not drive through a puddle after this. The brakes will have a weird smell, this is normal (they just got very hot). If the rust is deep you need the rotors machined, or replaced, probably pads too.

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GlizzyDog222@reddit (OP)

Really appreciate the help!

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